Nowhere to Turn? Why 65% of Refuge Referrals Are Still Being Rejected, and What Frontline Staff Can Do

When someone asks for help to escape domestic abuse, finding a refuge place can be a vital step towards safety. But a referral does not guarantee a space.

Women’s Aid’s Nowhere to Turn 2026 report highlights a stark figure: 65.2% of refuge referrals in 2024–25 were rejected. This was the highest rate in five years. The figure relates to refuge referrals recorded in England; it does not mean that 65.2% of all survivors seeking any kind of safe accommodation across the UK were turned away.

For frontline workers, the statistic can feel overwhelming. But there are practical steps that can make referrals clearer, improve coordination and help identify other safe housing options when a refuge cannot meet someone’s needs.

Why are so many refuge referrals rejected?

The most common reason is not that a survivor does not need help. It is that a refuge cannot offer a suitable place at that time. Women’s Aid reports that lack of capacity or space was the leading reason for rejection.

A space has to be suitable for the whole household and the risks they face. A vacancy may not be accessible to someone who uses a wheelchair, or appropriate for a survivor with particular health or support needs. Some shared refuges cannot accommodate older male children. Other services may not be able to provide the specialist support someone needs around mental health, substance use or other complex circumstances.

Practical needs matter too. A survivor may need to stay near their children’s school, healthcare, work or an existing support network. A refuge may not be able to accept pets, or the location may not be safe or workable for that family. These factors need to be explored carefully with the survivor; they should not be treated as reasons to dismiss a referral without considering other options.

Some barriers are especially pronounced:

• Disability and access: Women’s Aid found that only 1.1% of listed refuge vacancies in 2024–25 were suitable for wheelchair users.
• No recourse to public funds (NRPF): Only 11.5% of listed vacancies could consider a woman with NRPF. Immigration status can affect access to benefits and housing assistance, but it should not be treated as a reason to stop exploring specialist support.
• Older male children: Some women-only services cannot accommodate older boys. This can leave a parent facing an impossible choice between a refuge place and keeping their family together.

These figures help explain why a vacancy in a directory is not necessarily a safe, suitable or accessible option for the person being referred.

The housing problem behind the refuge shortage

Refuges are intended to provide safety and specialist support while a survivor plans what comes next. But many survivors cannot move on because affordable, suitable housing is hard to find. Social housing is in short supply, private rents may be out of reach, and a new home may need to be in a different area to reduce risk.

When survivors have to stay in refuge for longer, their rooms remain occupied. That can mean fewer places for people who need to leave urgently. Women’s Aid’s earlier From Safety to Stability research found that average refuge stays increased between 2018–19 and 2023–24, with the shortage of move-on housing a key part of the picture.

This creates a cycle: a lack of appropriate move-on options blocks refuge spaces, while the shortage of refuge spaces leaves more survivors without a safe route out. It is a system issue, not a failure by the survivor, or by a frontline worker making a referral.

Make the referral as useful as possible

A strong referral cannot create a vacancy, and no one should be expected to present a survivor’s circumstances as simpler than they are. But clear, complete information can help services assess suitability more quickly and identify alternatives if the first option is not possible.

1. Agree safe contact and share the survivor’s choices

Before sending a referral, check how and when it is safe to contact the survivor. Confirm whether voicemail, text, email or calls could be seen by a perpetrator, and record any safe contact arrangements clearly. Get consent for the referral and for sharing relevant information, following your organisation’s information-sharing procedures.

The survivor should remain part of the decision-making. Ask what they need to feel safe and what options they would consider. Do not assume that leaving the area, separating from a pet or changing a child’s school is an acceptable or realistic choice.

2. Include the key details first time

Explain who needs accommodation and what is required for the household: children’s ages and genders, any access needs, pets, health or support needs, and any practical requirements around location. Make clear what risks need to be considered, including whether the perpetrator knows the survivor’s location or is likely to search for them.

Be honest about needs and risks. Withholding information can lead to an unsuitable placement or a breakdown in support later. At the same time, share information securely and only where it is relevant and authorised.

3. Use risk information thoughtfully

A DASH risk assessment can help structure information about risk, and MARAC may be appropriate for cases that meet your local threshold. Follow your local MARAC process and share information through the appropriate channels.

Neither a DASH score nor a MARAC referral should be treated as a substitute for listening to the survivor or as a simple pass-or-fail test for refuge. Risk can change, and a person’s account and circumstances matter. The Homelessness Code of Guidance also advises housing authorities to use existing accounts where possible, so a survivor is not asked to repeat painful experiences unnecessarily.

4. Start exploring options early

Where possible, contact refuge services early and follow local referral arrangements. Use Routes to Support to identify specialist domestic abuse services and refuge vacancies, and check local or regional pathways with your domestic abuse partnership.

For survivors facing additional barriers, the No Woman Turned Away project offers specialist support through eligible providers and partner organisations. It is not a public self-referral service, so frontline workers should check the project’s current referral information and eligibility criteria.

5. Keep the survivor informed

Waiting can be frightening and uncertain. Agree how you will provide updates, even if there is no news yet. If a service cannot offer a place, explain that this is about availability or suitability, not a judgement about whether the survivor deserves help. Ask what the next step will be and who is responsible for following up.

When the answer is no: explore other safe options

A refuge is one form of safe accommodation, not the only possible route. The right option depends on the survivor’s wishes, circumstances and risk.

• Sanctuary schemes can help someone stay in their own home with security measures, if it is safe, suitable and their choice. They are not appropriate in every situation, for example, if the perpetrator lives in or can still access the property.
• Dispersed or supported accommodation may offer a more suitable alternative, including self-contained accommodation or support for a household that cannot use a shared refuge.
• Housing and homelessness assistance should be explored promptly. In England, a person who is homeless as a result of domestic abuse has a priority-need category under homelessness legislation. This is not a guarantee of a permanent home, and eligibility rules still apply. A person with NRPF may face additional restrictions, so seek specialist housing and immigration advice rather than assuming there is no route to help. The rules differ across the UK.
• Other immediate safety planning may involve a specialist domestic abuse service, social care, health professionals, police or housing teams working together. Follow local safeguarding and information-sharing procedures, and do not contact an alleged perpetrator as part of gathering evidence.

The government’s 2024–25 safe accommodation statistics for England provide another view of the pressure: local authorities reported 28,190 households unable to be supported in safe accommodation. These figures cover a wider range of accommodation than refuge referrals, so they should not be confused with the 65.2% Women’s Aid figure. Together, however, they underline why local housing pathways and alternatives matter.

Practical support can make a difference

No individual worker can solve the shortage of refuge spaces or move-on housing alone. But a thoughtful referral, a clear explanation of the survivor’s needs, early contact with specialist services and consistent updates can help reduce avoidable delays and make the next step easier to identify.

This is why domestic abuse training UK organisations can rely on needs to cover more than recognising abuse. Frontline teams need practical knowledge of referral pathways, risk, housing options and safe information sharing. Serene Futures provides domestic abuse training courses, including domestic abuse training for local authorities and safeguarding domestic abuse training for professionals supporting survivors.

To discuss training for your team, contact Serene Futures.